Protector mechanism for looms



Dec. 23,1941. 7 'w. WAKEFIELD 2,267,435

PROTECTOR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Fil ed June 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WALTER HWAKEFIELD ATTORNEY -De.23, 1941. w, A EF ELD 7 2,267,485

PROTECTOR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Fil ed June 16, 1941 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I WALTER H. WAKEFIELD '&q.. I

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 23, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,267,485 PROTECTOR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Walter H. Wakefield, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 16, 1941, Serial No. 398,249

17] Claims. (Cl. 139-347) This invention relates to protector mechanism for looms and it is the general object of the invention to absorb part at least of the energy of the moving lay by causing the lay to lift itself at the time of protection.

Protector mechanisms ordinarily employ a protector rod pivoted on the lay and provided with daggers and binder fingers. When the shuttle is properly boxed the fingers rock the rod to move the daggers out of alignment with stop ping mechanism, such as bunters. When the shuttle fails to be properly boxed, however, the dagger engages the bunter and stops the lay abruptly, causing considerable shock to the loom. It is an important object of my present invention to convert the forward motion of the lay into a vertical component which is directed upwardly to lift the lay for the purpose of absorbing energy from the lay.

The usual loom is constructed with certain parts either connected to or extending over the lay, but there is usually sufficient clearance to permit a limited upward motion of the lay. It

is a further object of my present invention to mount the lay on links or the like which are normally in down position due to the weight of the lay but are movable to permit a limited upward motion of the lay sufficient to absorb part of the lay energy without causing damaging engagement with those parts, such as the temple and the magazine, which are over the lay.

The aforesaid bunters not only absorb the energy of the lay but also operate loom stopping mechanism, such as the shipper handle, and in the practice of my present invention I retain the usual protector mechanism with its stopping feature and add an auxiliary dagger which cooperates with a mechanical system acting to exert an upward force on the lay. The usual dagger and the auxiliary mechanism operate at the same time and the slight upward motion of the lay is insufficient to interfere with the normal operation of the usual protector dagger and bunter.

When the weight of the gearing. and other parts which are secured to the loomside is considerable their momentum strains the top or crank shaft of the loom at the time of protection due to the tendency of the shaft to continue to turn after the hunters stop the lay. It is a further object of my present invention to reduce the strain on the crank shaft by causing a slight upward motion of the lay at the time of protection, thereby permitting the top shaft to move through an appreciable are without a correspending forward motion of the lay. The top shaft is thus given more time in which to come to rest and the lastpart of its rotation prior to stoppage does not cause forward motion of the lay.

Thus far I have mentioned absorption of part only of the energy of the lay, but I am not necessarily limited to the use of my invention in association with the usual protector mechanism. It is another object of my invention to provide stop means to limit rising motion of the lay in a manner similar to the action of the ordinary bunters.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein va convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a loom made according to my present invention,

Fig. 2 illustrates the rising of the lay during a protecting operation and is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted and the lay being shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a detailed horizontal 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal detailed section on line 44 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 2 but showing the parts in normal non-stopping position.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a loom frame comprising loomsides I0 and arches H. The top or crank shaft I2 is driven in the usual manner by mechanism not shown and retates on the loom frame. Extending forwardly from the shaft l2 are connectors one of which is shown at [3 in Fig. 2 for connection at M to a lay-L. The lay comprises a transverse beam l5 and right and left lay ends l6 and i1, respectively, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1. The lay end l6 supports a single shuttle box l8 while the lay end I! is associated with a gang IQ of shuttle boxes which are supported on the rod 20. The latter extends through a rocker foot 2| and is connected to an upwardly extending link 22 connected to the box operating mechanism not shown but of any approved form. At the opposite end of the loom there is a second rocker foot 23 and both of the rocker feet are secured to a rocker shaft 24 extending across the loom.

section on line Picker stick 25 is supported by the foot 23 while picker stick 2B is supported by the foot 2|. The picker sticks are actuated by the usual connections 28 operated by mechanism not shown but so constructed as to permit a slight upward motion of the parts 28. The gang I9 is slidable vertically with respect to the lay on inner and outer guides 30 and 3|, respectively, secured to the lay and this relationship permits upward motion of the lay with respect to the boxes IS. The lay is provided with the usual reed R and hand rail 32 the ends of which are attached to the lay swords 33 secured to the lay ends and the lay beam and pivoted on the rocker shaft 24.

In the usual loom there are certain mechanisms which extend over the lay but I show herein but one such mechanism, namely, the magazine M for use with automatic replenishment of weft. This magazine is shown in Fig. l as supporting a bobbin B in transfer position in the lower part of the magazine a slight distance above the shuttle box l8.

The loom will operate with the usual warp controlling instrumentalities not shown and the warp sheds designated at S and S, Fig. 2, will be formed for the passage of a shuttle 35. The warp threads are sufficiently elastic to permit a limited upward motion of the lay without breakage, and the woven cloth passes over breast beam 36.

The matter thus far described is of usual construction and except as indicated hereinafter may operate in the usual manner. The whole weight of the lay is supported by the rocker shaft 24 and rotation of shaft |2 reciprocates the lay between front and back center positions.

Each shuttle box is provided with a binder 40 for cooperation with a binder finger 4| secured to a protector rod 42 rotatable in bearings 43 on the lay beam. Forwardly extending daggers 44 secured to the protector rod are normally held in raised position when the shuttle boxes are empty by means of a torsion spring 45 surrounding rod 42 and having one end thereof held by a collar 46 set on the protector rod while the other end extends under the lay. The breast beam is provided at each end thereof with a bunter lever 41 in front of which was located a block of shock absorbing material, such as rubber indicated at 48. The bunters are normally in the path of the daggers and will be engaged by the latter unless a shuttle is boxed to rock the protector rod 42 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.-

That part of the protector mechanism already described is of the usual construction and acts to arrest forward motion of the lay by a force which is transmitted from the dagger through the bunters to the loom frame. Shipping mechanism not shown acts to disconnect the loom from its driving motor when the bunters are moved.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means to mount the lay for limited upward motion and provide other means for converting the forwardly directed force of the lay into an upwardly directed force which is exerted against the lay to lift the latter. At each side of the loom the rocker shaft 24 will be supported by a link 51'! the rear end of which is pivoted as at to a fixed stand 52. Upper and lower stops 53 and 54, respectively, limit the amount of vertical motion of the links 50 and therefore of the rod 24 and the lay. The stops can be made of shock'absorbing material similar to blocks 48.

A rod 60 extends between and is secured to the loomsides and has loosely mounted on each end thereof a lifting lever 6| the hub 62 of which is positioned by collars 63 on shaft 60. Each lifting lever comprises an upwardly extending arm 65 notched as at 66 to receive an auxiliary dagger 61 secured to the previously described protector rod 42. Each lever 6| also includes a rearwardly extending horizontal arm 10 which is held down by a tension spring 1| connected as at 12 to the adjacent loomside. Each lay sword has secured thereto a block 15 above the adjacent arm 10 when the lay is in that part of its forward stroke at which protection ordinarily occurs. Each block fits closely under the lay beam and is held rigidly to the latter and the associated lay sword. Each arm 65 has a fixed stop pin 16 to limit angular motion of the lever 6| in a clockwise direction under the influence of the associated spring H as viewed in Fig. 5.

Under normal conditions the weight of the lay holds the links on the bottom stops 54 and as the shaft |2 rotates the lay swings back and forth between front and back center positions with rocker shaft 24 in low position. So long as the shuttle is properly boxed during the forward motion of the lay the fingers 4| will be moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 to move the usual daggers 44 below their bunters and also move the auxiliary daggers 61 below the upper end of arms 65 on levers 6|. Under these conditions the blocks 15 move forwardly over the horizontal arms 10 a slight distance above the latter.

When the shuttle fails to box properly both of the binders 40 of the boxes aligned with the shuttle path will remain rearwardly or to the right asviewed in Fig. 2 and the fingers 4| will not be moved forwardly with respect to the lay. As the latter advances the daggers 44 will engage their bunters in usual manner and at substantially the same time the auxiliary bunters 61 will enter the notches B6 to move arms 65 forwardly and rock the lifter levers 6| in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 5. As levers 6| rock the arms 10 are raised against the blocks 15 and an upward force is exerted on the lay tending to lift said lay from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2. The upward motion is slight, but enough of the forwardly directed energy of the lay is absorbed to lift the lay from the supports 54 and retard its motion. The remainder of the forwardly directed lay energy is absorbed by the usual protector mechanism.

During upward motion of the lay the daggers 44 remain in contact with their bunters 41 and cause a slight angular motion of the protector rod in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, thereby tending to move the protector fingers away from the binders to avoid forcing of said binders against fixed parts of the lay. At the time the daggers engage the stopping parts the wrists of the crank shaft l2 will be in the low position shown in Fig. 2, but at the end of the protecting stroke when the lay is at rest the wrists will be at the higher position shown in Fig. 2, due to the fact that the upward motion of the connectors |3 permits a small angular motion on the part of shaft |2 which it could not have if the lay moved about a fixed center. This angular motion provides additional time for arresting the momentum of any parts which may be rotating with the shaft l2.

While I have shown my invention in connection with the usual protector dagger I do not as usual. It is sufficient for the purposes of my invention if the energy stored in the moving lay is brought to bear upon the lay itself, and if lifting of the lay will not suffice to absorb all the energy of the lay, additional means, either the usual daggers, Or the stops for the lay links 50 may be relied upon to check the remaining unabsorbed force.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for converting a forward force to the lay in an upward direction which can be utilized for lifting the lay, thereby absorbing some of the kinetic energy of the moving lay by moving the latter in a direction which does not strain a comparatively weak part of the loom frame. It will be seen that the usual protector rod may be employed, and carries daggers which rock lay lifting levers 6|. The reaction force transmitted from the levers 6| to the shaft 60 is in a downward direction transverse of the main stopping force, and these parts are sufiiciently strong to withstand the strain to which they are subjected. It will also be seen that the lay is mounted for slight upward motion and is kept normally down by its own weight. Furthermore, rising of the lay moves the protector fingers forwardly to prevent them from being forced against parts which constitute normal stops to their rearward motion. Also, the up motion of the lay permits a slight additional angular motion of the crank shaft to afford additional time for absorbing the momentum of parts geared to the shaft. All of these advantages are accompanied by the general effect of turning a part of the forwardly directed energy of the lay against itself to raise the lay against the force of gravity to a point above its normal path and in a direction transverse of the force which tends to break the loom frame. It is also to be understood that the usual bunters may be eliminated and the weight of the lay together with the stops 53 relied upon to absorb all of the forward motion of the lay.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and .forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, and means operative upon failure of the shuttle to reach normal position at said point in the forward motion of the lay to convert forwardly directed kinetic energy of the lay into kinetic energy directed upwardly against the lay to causethe lay to lift itself relatively to said path and absorb kinetic energy of the lay by overcoming the downward pull of gravity.

2; A stoppingmechanism fora loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at a given point during the forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, means operative upon failure of the shuttle to be boxed at said point during forward motion of the lay to cause the lay by reason of its forward motion to exert an upward force on itself tending to lift the lay with respect to said path, and means to limit upward motion of the lay with respect to said path.

3. In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, a force direction changing mechanism located in front of the lay and capable of receiving a forwardly directed force from the lay and convert said force into an upwardly directed force against the lay, and means operative upon failure of the shuttle to be inthe normal boxed position thereof at said given point to cause the lay to move said force direction changing mechanism and cause the latter to exert a force on the lay tending ,to lift the latter with respect to said path.

4. In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, a force direction changing mechanism having apart to be moved forwardly by the lay and having another part to move upwardly when the first part moves forwardly, means to cause said second part to exert a lifting force on the lay when said second part moves upwardly, and means operative upon failure of the shuttle to be in the normal boxed position thereof at said given point during forward motion of the lay to cause the latter to move the first named part of the mechanism forwardly and cause the second part of the mechanism to lift the lay relatively to said path.

5. In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, a force direction changing mechanism having a part to be moved forwardly by a force derived from the lay and having a second part to engage and exert an upward force on the lay when said first part moves forwardly, and means movable with respect to the lay and moving forwardly therewith and operative upon failure of the shuttle to reach the normal position thereof at said point during forward motion of the lay to engage the first part of said mechanism to move said part forwardly by a force derived from the lay and cause the second part to exert an upward force on the lay tending to lift the latter.

6. In protector mechanism for a loom having a backwardly and forwardly reciprocating lay movable along a given path and operating with the shuttle which is normally boxed at a given point in the forward motion of the lay, mechanism to retard the forward motion of the lay including means to mountthe lay for motion upwardly with respect to said path, means to convert a forwardly directed force into an upwardly directed force, force transmitting means on the lay to transmit a forwardly directed force from the advancing lay to said converting means when the shuttle fails to be boxed at said given point, and means fixed on the lay to receive the upwardly directed force from the converting means tending to lift the lay by a force derived from itself and transmitted through said force transmitting means and converting means to said fixed means.

7 In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, an actuator on the lay to be in protecting position when the shuttle fails to box normally at said given point, and force direction changing mechanism to be moved upwardly by the actuator when the latter is in protecting position at said given point against the lay totend to lift the lay relatively to said path by a force derived from the lay and transmitted thereto through said mechanism.

8. In protector mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating between front and back center positions normally along a given path having a horizontal component, the loom operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed when the lay reaches a given point in its forward motion, an actuator on the lay to be in protecting position as the lay advances when the shuttle fails to be boxed at said given point, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said given path, and means operated by a forwardly directed force derived from the lay and transmitted through said actuator when the latter is in protecting position tending to lift the lay relatively to said given path, and thereby absorb energy from the forwardly moving lay to retard the latter.

9. In protector mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating between front and back center positions normally along a given path having a horizontal component, the l-oom operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed when the lay reaches a given point in its forward motion, an actuator on the lay to be in protecting position as the lay advances when the shuttle fails to be boxed at said given point, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said given path, means operated by a forwardly directed force derived from the lay and transmitted through said actuator when the latter is in protecting position to convert the forwardly directed force of the lay to an upwardly directed force, and means to transmit the upwardly directed force against the lay and lift the latter relatively to said given path.

10. In protector mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is normally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, and means operative 11. In a loom having a shuttle to travel along a lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, means movable to convert a forwardly directed force derived from the advancing lay into an upward force directed against the lay to lift the latter with respect to said path, and means operative upon requirement for loom stoppage due to failure of the shuttle tobe properly boxed at the time in the loom operation when the shuttle should be properly boxed to connect the lay to the movable means and cause the latter to transmit an upwardly directed force against the lay to lift the latter relatively to said path.

12. In a loom having a shuttle to travel along a backwardly and forwardly reciprocating lay movable along a given path, means to mount the lay for upward movement with respect to the path, forc'e converting means having a part movable forwardly and having a second part movable upwardly against the lay, means controlled by requirement for loom stoppage due to' failure of the shuttle to be properly boxed at the time in the loom operation when the shuttle should be properly boxed to connect the lay to said first part and cause the second part to lift the lay with respect to said path, and a stop to limit upward motion of the lay.

13. In mechanism to absorb the kinetic energy of a loom lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and along which a shuttle travels, means to mount the lay for upward movement with respect to the path, normally idle lifting means operable when connected to the lay to convert a forwardly directed force derived from the lay as the latter advances to an upward force directed against the lay tending to lift the latter with respect to said path, and means controlled by requirement for loom stoppage due to failure of the shuttle to be properly boxed at the time in the loom operation when the shuttle should be properly boxed to connect the lay to the lifting means as the lay advances and cause said lifting means to exert a lifting force on the lay to absorb kinetic energy of the lay by overcoming the downward pull of gravity.

14. In a loom having a shuttle to travel along a lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path, a force converting mechanism having a forwardly moving part and an upwardly moving part to exert a lifting force on the lay, and means operative upon requirement for loom stoppage due to failure of the shuttle to be properly boxed at the time in the loom operation when the shuttle should be properly boxed as the lay moves forwardly to transmit a force from the lay to said first part to cause the second part to exert a force on the lay tending to lift the latter with respect to said path.

15. In protector mechanism for a loom having a lay reciprocating backwardly and forwardly along a given path and operating with a shuttle which is nor-mally boxed at one end of the lay at a given point during forward motion of said lay, means to mount the lay for upward motion relatively to said path, means operative upon failure of the shuttle to reach said given point to dissipate the kinetic energy of the moving lay by causing the latter to lift itself against the action of gravity, and a stop to limit upward motion of the lay.

16. In protector mechanism for a loom having a fabric and warp threads connected thereto which form a warp shed through which passes a shuttle to be boxed normally when the lay reaches a given point in its motion toward the fabric, means to mount the lay for motion in a direction towardand from the fabric normally along a given path and also in a direction transverse of the warp shed and said 'path, a force direction converting mechanism having a part movable in the direction in which the lay moves when the latter approaches the fabric and having another part movable in a direction transversely of the warp shed, and means operative upon failure of the shuttle to reach said given point as the lay approaches the fabric to connect the lay to said first part and cause movement of the second part against the lay to exert on the latter a force transverse of the warp shed and said path.

17. In a loom having a fabric and warp threads connected thereto which form a shed for the passage of a shuttle which is normally boxed at a given point in the motion of the lay towardthe fabric, means to move the lay toward and from the fabric, a force direction changing mechanism including a part movable in the direction in which the lay moves when the latter moves'toward the fabric and said mechanism having a second part connected to the first part and movable by thelatter in a, direction transverse of the warp threads, means operative upon failure of the shuttle to reach said given point as the lay approaches the fabric to connect the lay to said 

